RELEASE: Dilly Duka, Victor Pineda set to train with Atlético Madrid

CHICAGO, Ill.(Nov. 19, 2013) – The Chicago Fire announced Tuesday that midfielders Dilly Duka and Victor Pineda will train with Spanish La Liga side and current UEFA Champions League participants Atlético Madrid from Nov. 20 through Dec. 6.

“This is a great opportunity for Dilly and Victor to train with a world-class club,” said Fire Head Coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop. “This will allow them to continue to develop as we gear up for the 2014 season. Our partnership with Atlético Madrid has granted our players the opportunity to train with a Champions League caliber side and we’re fortunate to offer this option to our players.”

Since 2011, the Fire have been engaged in a strategic alliance with Atlético Madrid, Club América and Sport Club Internacional and four others clubs on a total of five continents in an effort to bring clubs together in the spirit of creating synergy as it relates to the growth of soccer, on-the-field-and-off. Jalil Anibaba, Austin Berry and Corben Bone have previously taken part in training stints at Atlético Madrid.

Duka joined the Fire on Feb. 5, 2013 from the Columbus Crew. In his 31 appearances for the Men in Red, the Montville, N.J. product scored four goals and added three assists.

Pineda, a Fire Academy product and the first Homegrown player in club history, was a member of the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. The Bolingbrook, Ill. native made three appearances for the U.S. in 2013.